鄘风·墙有茨
墙有茨，不可埽也。中冓（gòu）之言，不可道也。所可道也，言之丑也。
墙有茨，不可襄也。中冓之言，不可详也。所可详也，言之长也。
墙有茨，不可束也。中冓之言，不可读也。所可读也，言之辱也。
Scandals
The creepers on the wall
Cannot be swept away.
Stories of inner hall
Should not be told by day.
What would have to be told
Is scandals manifold.
The creepers on the wall
Cannot be rooted out.
Scandals of inner hall
Should not be talked about.
If they are talked of long,
They’ll be an endless song.
The creepers on the wall
Cannot be together bound.
Scandals of inner hall
Should not be spread around.
If spread from place to place,
They are shame and disgrace.
墙上有蒺藜草，不能把它扫。
宫中的那些话，不足为外人道。
要是跟人说，实在不光彩。
墙上有蒺藜草，不能将它除。
宫中的那些话，不要细说它。
要是细说它，那可就太长啦。
墙上有蒺藜草，不能捆成束。
宫中的那些话，不能到处讲。
要是到处讲，脸面何处藏。
卫国公子顽与庶母私通，这八卦传入民间，娱乐了大众。但这首诗显然更胜一筹，像《红楼梦》里薛宝钗所言，“将市俗的粗话，撮其要，删其繁，再加润色比方出来，一句是一句”。点到为止，欲说还休，妙在彼此心领神会。在无法直接对抗时，幽默是刺穿荒诞最有力的武器。